February 23, 2001

Nike commits to keeping shoe production in Indonesia
Steve Cannane
Triple-J Radio
Sydney, Australia

In what could be considered a major victory for the Nike International Campaign, Maria Eitel of the Nike Corporation, in an interview with Steve Cannane from Triple-J Radio in Sydney, Australia, stated that Nike would not cut and run from their Indonesian factories. Below is a segment of the interview.

Steve Cannane
I mean one of the real problems in a country like Indonesia is the workers fear that you'll leave the country and they won't have the jobs. The people who run the factories in Indonesia often threaten workers that if you speak up or if you speak out or if you complain, Nike's going to leave Indonesia. Can you make a commitment that Nike will stay in Indonesia at its current level?

Maria Eitel
Well, we are in Indonesia, it's 30 per cent of our footwear production, it is a huge piece of Nike's business, we're committed to be there...

Steve Cannane
So, any Nike factory boss in Indonesia who says Nike will pull out if you guys complain, he is wrong in saying that and you won't stand for that kind of intimidation?

Maria Eitel
He is absolutely wrong and that is absolutely unacceptable intimidation.

Click here for a full transcript of the interview.